Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016-2017

Students in the Master’s programme in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS) of Leiden University are trained for a scientific career in drug research and development. Depending on their interests, students can choose from seven specialisations to further extend their scientific training and theoretical background or supplement it with other subjects and training.

The duration of each programme variant is two years (120 EC). Students who complete the programme receive the degree Master of Science in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences, with specification of the specialisation. All students who complete the master Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences, regardless of the specialisation, are admissible to a PhD programme in Bio-Pharmaceutical, Biomedical or other Life Sciences.

Optional courses in the academic year 2016–2017 (list is not restrictive):

More info

The master’s programme of Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS) aims to train students in the research area of bio-pharmaceutical sciences and drug research in such a way that the graduated master’s students (MSc’s) have enough knowledge and hands-on experience to be able to work independently as a scientific researcher. An MSc in any of the Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences specialisations should be able to obtain a PhD position in Life Sciences or Biomedical Sciences.

The education aims at:

obtaining a deeper insight in two or three areas of drug research;

obtaining skills to perform scientific research in one or two areas of drug research, using relevant methods and techniques, and stimulating a critical attitude towards the interpretation of data of scientific research;

obtaining an attitude in order to function well in a team, based on the idea that research in the life sciences tends to be performed in multidisciplinary teams;

obtaining skills to present the results of scientific research by written reports and by oral presentations.

The master’s programme BPS may start anytime, although non-Dutch students are advised to start in September or February when they need visa or help with housing (see for more information see the Masters in Leiden website). The programme has a duration of two years (120 EC).

The programme of all specializations consists of an introduction course, at least one major research project, at least one lecture series, 20 colloquium points, scientific conduct and optional courses. Depending on the chosen specialisation other mandatory and optional courses apply as described on the corresponding page of the E-prospectus. MSc students with deficiencies in their previous training may repair these with optional courses (conditions may apply). The programme will be tailor made for each student individually.

The general outline of the programme of the three Research Specialisations of the Master’s programme BPS is indicated in the table below. The other specialisations generally start with the research component, more details can be found on the e-guide pages of each specialisation.

Level

EC

Introduction Course Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences

500

5

Research project 1, in the chosen specialisation

- practical work

600

44

- thesis

600

5

- oral presentation

600

2

Research project 2, (preferably in another discipline of BPS, not restricted to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences)

- practical work

600

31

- thesis

600

5

Literature study plus thesis

500

7

Lecture series 1 (in BPS)

500

4

Course Scientific Conduct

500

1

20 Colloquium points

500

1

Optional courses or traineeships

400–600 (max 12 EC < 400)

15

Attending more than one lecture series of BPS is optional and may be part of the programme component ‘Optional courses’.